Charity workers fund emergency aid for Indonesia

Earthquake and tsunami victims are getting vital aid thanks to fundraising efforts by the Glasgow branch of a leading UK charity.

Volunteers and staff from the Al-Khair Foundation office in Govanhill’s Victoria Road have been working with businesses and local mosques to raise support for the people struggling to rebuild after the disaster in Indonesia.

The funds have helped Al-Khair, a humanitarian charity, organise relief efforts and deliver supplies to devastated regions.

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Zubair Vali Masjid, liaison officer and events coordinator at Al-Khair Foundation, said: “It’s been inspiring to see the community of Glasgow rally together and help raise money for the desperate victims in Indonesia. The generosity has been amazing and it means so much to the people who have so little.”

Al-Khair launched its Emergency Indonesia Earthquake Appeal hours after the earthquake, which triggered a six-metre high tsunami on September 28, claiming almost 1000 lives with 1000 still missing.

Teams from Turkey and Indonesia have been working on the ground in Donggala, Palu and Sigi, providing food packs to more than 20,000 individuals. They have also supplied hygiene kits to over 14,000 people, installed PVC pipes to provide water for houses and started construction for male and female latrines in communities.

Al-Khair also secured permission from the local government in Indonesia to use land for temporary shelters for the next two years in Sigi.

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The charity will build temporary shelters next to damaged houses to make it easier for families to rebuild their homes.

Al-Khair coordinated with the Indonesian government to distribute aid relief and worked directly with UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Indonesia).

Imam Qasim Rashid Ahmad, chairman and founder of Al-Khair Foundation, said: “We wish a warm thank you to all communities including mosques and businesses who contributed to this cause.

“Al-Khair’s donors will always reach out during a time of need, but so many people from communities are making a particular effort to do the very best for our Emergency Indonesia Earthquake Appeal.”

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Founder Imam Qasim will be travelling to Indonesia to initiate the rehabilitation development phase and oversee the development of mid-term shelters for the tsunami and earthquake victims.

More than 200,000 people have lost their homes and aftershocks have presented huge challenges for response teams to coordinate rebuilding programmes.

Building materials have been sparse with very limited stocks in stores and Al-Khair has had to reach out to other islands for construction materials which has increased costs.

Al-Khair Foundation’s emergency appeal is still ongoing and asks for donations of £50 towards food and water, £75 towards medical supplies and hygiene kits. and £100 towards temporary shelter.

For more information, visit www.alkhair.org.